Trial looms for Akon

Trial looms for Akon

FISHKILL, N.Y. — Akon is headed to trial on criminal charges he tossed a fan offstage at an upstate concert last summer.

The 35-year-old singer is accused of tossing a teenager off the stage during a June 2007 concert at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the boy landed on her.

Akon, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, asked for the jury trial during a brief appearance with his lawyer in Fishkill Town Court on Wednesday. He’s due back in court for trial Dec. 1 unless a deal is negotiated in the meantime.

He pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation.

Chan happy for small role

HONG KONG — Action movie star Jackie Chan said Wednesday he was not upset about his small role in the Beijing Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies because he was happy to play any part in promoting the games.

The world’s best-known ethnic Chinese movie idol sang along with other singers at the end of both ceremonies, while the spotlight instead fell on retired Chinese gymnast Li Ning who soared — suspended by wires — around the upper, inner rim of the Bird’s Nest Stadium to light the Olympic cauldron.

Today’s birthdays

Radio personality Paul Harvey is 90. Actress Mitzi Gaynor is 77. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans is 48. Actor Wes Bentley (“American Beauty”) is 30. Singer Beyonce Knowles (Destiny’s Child) is 27.